IV

CHAPTER IV

A SHADOW IN THE MARSHLANDS

The tell-tale signs of an approaching dusk were upon them by the time the company had traversed the great downs of the Eligor Plains and reached the southeast banks of the Marshes. The long shadows cast by the serrated peaks of the Midgar Mountains stretched many miles over the grasslands, the thick snow at their summit glimmering as the rays of a descending sun crept around the ridges, a stark contrast to the gathering storm clouds overhead.

The ride from the chocobo ranch had been swift and without incident and, had it not been for an old signpost identifying the nearby Reagan Farm, they would have considered themselves as far into the wild as it was possible to be. The country was as lush and pure as they had come to expect from this part of the Continent, free from the deathly grasp of the Mako Reactors, dotted sporadically by groves of unkempt trees and the occasional lake. It was abound with several species living in harmony, from cattle to rabbits, deer, moose, levrikons, epiornii, and even another herd of diceratopses, none of whom seemed particularly concerned as Boco, Zeio and a fiery feline beast galloped past.

The chocobos had handled like a dream, graceful in their movement, but with a remarkable display of power and drive in their muscular legs. Their tame nature and vast experience in being ridden by humans meant that their behaviour was impeccable, obeying every instruction commanded of them via the reins. Even during the short break the group had enjoyed alongside a small river, Boco and Zeio remained blissfully compliant.

To appease her guilt of utilising the animals in such a fashion, Tifa had purchased tantal greens from Billy when he recommended that the turnip-like vegetables were a favourite among the docile creatures. The two had warked in delight when she withdrew the treats from Barret's backpack, rolling them onto the grass by their large clawed feet. She had been unable to suppress an apologetic smile as they gnawed and pecked at the rough skin of the greens, devouring them within minutes.

Afterwards, Cloud watched with slight interest as the magnificent golden birds waded out into the gentle flowing waters, dunking their heads to drink, and shaking to cool the sleek feathers of their elegant necks. They were soon joined by Aerith who had discarded her boots and hoisted her pink dress up around her thighs to avoid it getting wet.

Boco and Zeio seemed unnerved by her approach, instead offering the underside of their breasts for her to stroke while she whispered soft incantations. Their beady eyes had grown heavy and relaxed, almost as if her words had entranced them, becoming immediately alert again when the leader had declared that they must continue their journey. Aerith had led the chocobos back to the embankment, collecting her things as the duo waited patiently to be mounted.

"Need a hand?" Cloud had asked her as he heaved himself onto Boco's front saddle, carefully adjusting the Buster Sword.

"You're such a gentleman," Aerith teased, allowing him to use his unnatural strength to swing her up so that she sat directly behind, her legs hanging on either side of the animal's short wings. Both were oblivious to Tifa's fleeting expression as she scrambled to position herself similarly beside Barret, snatching the reins while he fought to keep his balance atop the rear of the visibly uncomfortable Zeio.

"Are you quite finished?" she had snapped as he steadied himself.

"Hey, I ain't no natural at this!" he retorted. "These chocobos ain't takin' a liking to me the way they have to Blondie over there."

"They probably think he's one of their kin," Tifa said flippantly.

The group had then set off once more, charging over the prairies, feeling the cool wind against their skin as the birds gathered speed. Red XIII was able to match their every step, running over the rich earth as if he was being hounded, never faltering or complaining of exhaustion. Only when they had negotiated the crest of a steep hill overlooking the wetlands did the chocobos lose their haste, unenthusiastically beginning their final descent towards uncertainty. Now, staring out across the uninviting murkiness of the Marshes, Cloud's heightened senses detected a lingering aura of malevolence. Aerith tightened her grip around his waist; she also felt it.

According to Bill, the entrance to Mythril Mine was an ancient cavern called East Gate, located amidst a now-abandoned base of former workers' lodges on the westernmost point of the swamp. Boasting a diameter of approximately two miles, the lagoon had proven a formidable barrier between the grasslands and the mine long before the Zoloms had taken residence there, thus the tiny pioneer settlement of Luchile's Pass was established, named in honour of its founder. It was situated at the foot of a sheer cliff which marked the geological shift in the direction of the Midgar Mountains, the spur at which the northbound and eastbound ranges met.

However, the desolate landscape that waited between the company and Luchile's Pass appeared far from forgiving. Following the edge of the swamp south, they discovered the old miners' trail that Bill had also mentioned. Here the stale brown waters seemed to have subsided to reveal an almost unbroken causeway of semi-submerged islands, the path fading into the haunting fog that was gradually sliding down the mountainside. The blackening rainclouds above had all but engulfed the jagged peaks by now, and the temperature had plummeted so low that Cloud could see Boco's breath rising from the twin nostrils of his stubby beak.

"So…this is it," Tifa exhaled, breaking the silence that had surrounded the party as they paused on the shoreline of the Marshes.

"We should get this over with," Cloud responded adamantly, scanning the bleak terrain for signs of movement. "It's almost nightfall. The longer we hesitate, the more dangerous it becomes. Red, are you sure you're up to this?"

"Your question suggests I have a choice," the beast said blankly. "If, however, you are proposing that I may be unable to outrun our monsters, then you are quite mistaken. These dexterous legs of mine have saved me from much worse circumstances than this."

"You could've just said 'yes'," muttered Cloud, giving the reins around Boco's neck a light tug. "Let's go. And whatever you do, don't disturb the water."

As directed, the chocobo trotted forward, his claws tentatively testing the stability of the boggy land segments before submitting the full weight of himself and his riders. Zeio came next, and then Red XIII. The mud slurped underfoot with each timid step, smothering the legs of the animals, the horrid sound resonating in the mist like faint ghostly splutters. Tall unkempt weeds and leafless bushes marred the path, their shoots as ominous as wicked fingers, scratching the cautious chocobos as they passed. Around them, wiry branches and poisonous stalks of dead trees and plants reached out from the shallow waters, soon giving way to a gloomy abyss beyond.

Before long, other footprints appeared in the spongy soil, both of man and chocobo. Cloud lessened his hold over Boco, permitting the bird to pick up the pace on a trail he seemed to be familiar with, venturing more assuredly through the thickening haze. A foul stench hung in the air, not unlike rotting meat, suffocating the thoughts of the wary travellers. In addition, an abnormal stillness had developed over the Marshes, like the calm before a storm, amplifying each and every minute sound made as the company progressed.

Suddenly, Boco reared back, emitting a stifled kweh as Cloud battled frantically to bring him under control. Struggling to settle the bird, he glanced quickly about them in a bid to identify what had caused such a reaction. The curtain of fog had grown so palpable now that he could barely make out the ground beneath them, or the treacherous waterline. He estimated that they had crossed at least half of the two-mile trek. Turning back, he saw the shadows of Zeio and Red XIII slowly advancing towards him, and held up a hand to halt them.

"Yo, what's goin' on? Why've we stopped?" hissed Barret.

"Something's spooked Boco," Cloud replied quietly, patting the erect feathers on his chocobo's neck to soothe him. Handing the brown leather reins to Aerith, he expertly manoeuvred himself down from his saddle. "Wait here while I check it out."

Cloud's military boots sank deep into the mud, pulling at him as he edged forward. Guardedly, he reached over his shoulder, wrapping his gloved fingers around the long handle of the Buster Sword, releasing it from its magnetic holster. The pungent aroma emanating from the peaty swamp swept over him, wispy fumes rising from the motionless surface of the marsh, enveloping him, burning his throat as he inhaled. Brittle twigs cracked underfoot as he crept through the mist, his eyes trained on what lay ahead until, like a phantom, the reason for the commotion appeared before him.

The footprints on the causeway had been decimated by a ten-feet-thick gouge that had torn clean through the islet passage. At the centre of the fissure was a wrinkled snake skin, much larger than any Cloud had ever witnessed, floating lazily atop the stagnant water. The pallid yellow honeycomb pattern of its fist-sized scales had shrivelled over time, but the extent of the gelatinous skin was alarming, as was the implicit enormity of the monster that had shed it.

Crouching to inspect the moulted sleeve further, he noticed something bobbing very lightly to his right, almost wholly concealed by the giant skin. Cloud leaned forward, squinting with curiosity, carefully moving it aside with the tip of his sword and dislodging the object from the reeds it had been ensnared by. He grimaced as the discovery took shape before his eyes; he had seen a gnarled hand protruding from the water and now, freed from its entanglement, the upper-half of a human torso floated to the surface from the hidden depths. The twisted face of a young man emerged only a few feet away, his decomposing expression wide with fright, his body ripped in two at the stomach.

Did the Zoloms do this…?

As he lowered his gaze, a noise echoed from behind that caused Cloud's heart to skip a beat. He spun as he heard the resounding splash, lurching to his feet, his legs instinctively blasting into a sprint. Holding the Buster Sword aloft, he darted from island to island back in the direction of his comrades, hurdling bushes and knotted roots. Blood pumping in his veins, Cloud knew he had to get to them before the terrible serpent; he had to protect them. Harder and faster he surged, careering through the smog with enhanced agility, his chest ready to explode as he burst onto the narrow stretch where he had left the others.

"Godsdamn mud…" Red XIII cursed as he grumpily shook his tribal ankle bracelet dry, ripples wavering from the embankment where his paw had entered the swamp.

"What the hell happened?" panted Cloud in a mixture of annoyance and relief. Boco tilted his head in puzzlement at his master's abrupt and flustered entrance, mimicked somewhat by Aerith and Tifa.

"The ground gave way beneath me," snorted Red XIII, nodding to a patch of earth that had crumbled in a miniature landslide.

"I thought…" Cloud trailed off, forcing the words back. "We need to get outta here. Right now."

"What did you see out there?" asked Tifa with concern.

"There's no time," he answered hurriedly, striding towards Boco. Accepting the reins from Aerith as she adjusted the straps of the backpack she had been burdened with for the day, he readied himself to mount the chocobo, but stopped.

"What is it?" gulped Aerith, her voice trembling, reading Cloud's frown.

"Listen," he mouthed, holding a finger to his lips. Red XIII's ears perked as he craned his neck from side to side in an attempt to pinpoint the sound they had both heard, his concentration fierce. A tension fell over the party as they each held their breaths, none daring to speak, the seconds ticking by as if an eternity.

"Damn, Spiky," Barret sighed eventually, "you losin' your-?"

The rattle was unmistakable this time, slicing through the air like a klaxon. It echoed all around them, its source close by, but its direction indiscernible. Cloud and Aerith's comprehending gazes met for a fleeting moment before, in a single motion, he sprung onto Boco, yanking the reins and digging his heels into the bird's side.

"Go!" he yelled as Aerith wrapped her arms around him, hastily beckoning Tifa, Barret and Red XIII to follow.

With a shriek, the chocobos took off through the Marshes, ducking their heads low and elevating their tail feathers as they accelerated faster than they had run before. The animals skipped sprightly over the land, hurtling along the miners' trail, vaulting the snake skin trench effortlessly. The rattling grew louder, infectious to hear; it was a daunting threat to those whom had dared venture into the Zoloms' territory. Mud and water churned as the chocobos' legs became a blur, carving their own route through the swamplands.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the rattling faded into a thunderous sloshing sound. Cloud glanced over the metallic pauldron on his shoulder, and saw the silhouette of an enormous slithering serpent behind the grey partition of mist. Its preying seventy-foot body was gliding beneath the surface of the lagoon parallel to them, leaving only the silvery scales of its back visible, and was gaining speed.

Unable to take his gaping stare from the creature, jerking back and forth as Boco evaded a stretch of unsteady ground, Cloud brandished the Buster Sword once again, using a single arm to hold its blade at a lethal angle while he simultaneously steered the bird. The Zolom was now close enough for him to make out the rubbery texture of its skin as it coiled through the water at an incredible rate. There came a menacing hiss followed by a loud gurgle and, as if it had all been an illusion, the snake vanished.

"Where the hell'd it go?" roared Barret.

"Keep your eyes open!" shouted Cloud, anxiously searching the surrounding wetlands for any re-emergence of the colossal abomination. "That thing could-"

The Zolom screamed as it rose vertically out of the marsh, towering high over the advancing party. Slimy brown water poured from the golden underside of the gargantuan cobra as it threw its neck back and snarled, several deadly fangs gleaming inside its wide jaws, each one a foot long. A raspy forked tongue flicked out and cracked the air like a whip, the hooded frills on either side of its head flapping wildly as it let out a second high-pitched screech.

Veering left and right respectively, Boco and Zeio galloped around the Zolom's broad, muscular abdomen as it brought its body crashing to the ground, snapping its jaws hungrily. Cloud turned quickly to see Red XIII dive out of the serpent's lunging path, narrowly escaping its gaping mouth. He landed heavily in the mud, and stumbled as his paws sank under the impact, sliding awkwardly in an attempt to regain his footing. The Zolom hissed wickedly, lashing its barbed tail behind it as it slithered below the marsh. Red XIII's eye bore a glint of genuine fear, and he wasted no time in racing after the chocobos as they sped across the islands.

However, his relief was only fleeting, for the water behind him began thrashing up violently. The large hooded head of the snake suddenly reappeared through the fog at his rear, its fangs crunching savagely at the beast's hind legs, drawing closer with each missed lurch. He yowled, holding his flaming tail between his legs as he bounded at pace to keep it from being torn from his back. Sensing the Zolom arch its neck and loom over him as it primed its fatal strike, Red XIII was at its mercy. Closing his eye, hoping this breath was not his last, he heard something explosive whiz overhead.

The monstrous cobra bellowed in pain and fury as the thirty-five-millimetre bullets tore into its scaly midriff, forcing it to recoil. Red XIII glanced up to see a ferocious expression upon Barret's bearded face, his rotating gun-arm targeting the flailing snake, Tifa helping to keep him balanced while she steered Zeio. The serpent dodged from side to side, but Barret's sweeping aim was devastatingly flawless, shredding its silvery skin and causing thick globules of blood to spray over the swamp. The Zolom unleashed a terrible wail as it drove despairingly against the torrent of shots for a few seconds longer, desperate to catch the escaping beast, before gradually withdrawing, giving up the chase.

His heart pounding as adrenaline cascaded through him like wildfire, Red XIII did not notice the causeway had widened and grown significantly firmer beneath his padded paws until they had almost arrived on the western bank of the Marshes. The shroud of mist had also declined, and was now nothing more than a wispy layer of vapour that had settled over the patched grassy terrain ahead. The chocobos slowed to a canter and proceeded side by side beyond the threshold of the lagoon, along the foot of the eastbound Midgar Mountains.

The sharp cliff face hung eerily over the party like a watchful titan, black and craggy, glistening in the parts exposed to the drizzly rain that had started to fall. The storm clouds were now directly above them, casting a tangible gloom over the landscape. Wary of the dying day and the dreary twilight that would soon be upon them, the group rode for the narrow corridor that wound like a gorge between the scaling bluffs of the intersecting mountain ranges to Luchile's Pass.

They had only managed a short distance from the Marshes before Boco and Zeio grew restless, often bucking or turning away entirely from the mouth of the vale. Their reluctance fuelled Cloud's anticipation that the same great malice he had felt before now lurked not so far away; he was certain it was him. The birds' warks dulled to whimpering kwehs, unnerving the others, and making his own stomach tighten. Not even a calming song from Aerith was enough to ease the chocobos' discomfort, leaving the company no option.

"I think it's time these boys went home," Cloud proposed as he climbed down from Boco, holding out an arm to help Aerith.

"They've been brave enough for one day," nodded Tifa sombrely, absently stroking Zeio's head as she deliberated the situation. "But…do you think they'll be okay on their own?"

"You mean in the Marshes?" asked Cloud "Why wouldn't they be?"

"The damn birds outran that snake for fun," snorted Barret, lowering himself to the ground. "An' one o' them was carryin' me."

"We can't take them into the mine, anyway," Cloud added.

"It's just…" Tifa bit her lip, peering back into the ominous mist.

"Billy told us these two are pretty resourceful," Aerith encouraged her with a smile. "They'll be fine; they'll find their way back to the ranch."

Tifa stared into space for a number of seconds, her large brown eyes glazing over as she fell deep into contemplation. With a sigh, she finally lifted her leg over and dismounted, slumping down to join her four comrades. Unfastening the reins, she stuffed them into the small saddlebag, gesturing for Cloud to do the same. Boco and Zeio shared an excited gaze, eagerly scraping their claws in the dirt in recognition that they had been granted freedom.

"Be safe," Tifa bade Zeio, patting his breast firmly.

With a resounding wark, the giant golden bird bowed his head, then took off back in the direction of the swamp, soon followed by Boco. As the chocobos retreated into the Zolom's domain, the company stood in silence, watching their ratite allies vanish amid the wall of fog. It was Cloud who moved first, shouldering the backpack he had reclaimed from Aerith and, taking up the Buster Sword, trudged towards the gorge.

"Let's go."

"Barret?" Red XIII cleared his throat, causing the whole group to pause for a moment. His voice was delicate, laden with humility if not a touch of shame. Barret turned to face him, arching his scarred eyebrow. "I…um…I just wanted to thank you. For saving my life."

"Sure thing, old timer," he waved dismissively, pointing at the still-smoking barrels of his gatling-gun. "My partner here enjoys a good ol' bit o' monster bashin'. Don't forget, I got a reputation o' protectin' folks."

"Indeed," acknowledged the beast, starting after their leader, "but you have my deepest gratitude nonetheless."

The hike to the entrance of the Pass lasted slightly longer than it may have otherwise been. The group travelled without much urgency, allowing the weary Red XIII to regain his energy after what had seemed an entire afternoon of running on his part. The rain had picked up, swathing them in a blanket of cold precipitation and bullying them into donning their waterproof cagoules.

The jackets fluttered harshly as the wind increased, howling indefinable cautions as it swept between the mountains and the bare branches of the trees. The trail underfoot had begun to slope progressively downward, the soft earth giving way to uneven rocks that sprung from the ground like enormous grey eyeballs. It was only when the party rounded a jutting outcrop of the cliffside that Cloud's dread was realised; there was no question that Sephiroth had come this way. They were greeted to a sight more horrific than any could have imagined, halting each of the company in their tracks, the girls gasping in fright.

The limp, skewered body of another seventy-foot Zolom hung awkwardly, twisted in a disjointed fashion around the pointed head of the enormous stake that impaled its throat. Resembling a barren tree, the tall mast rose with purpose through the upturned topside of the monster; it was a measured warning to those who witnessed the butchery of the mangled snake. Its once-menacing scarlet eyes were unmoving and lifeless, its frills drooping lazily on either side of its golden skull. The entire figure of the mammoth cobra was splattered with dark blood, some of which still trickled from wounds across its scaly silver form.

A sudden flash of lightning struck the northern face of the Midgar Mountains, illuminating the sunken eyes of the hideous terror. Wrapped around the splintered trunk, the Zolom's black tongue tossed flaccidly in the wind, as did its deadweight tail, the harmless rattle now only a simple distraction. No smell of rotting flesh floated on the air; the slaughter had been recent. The imminent thunder of the colliding storm clouds rumbled around the five as they gawped uneasily at the creature, annihilated without remorse.

"Cloud…" croaked Tifa, her words a faint mumble in the gale. "You don't think this was Sephiroth, do you?"

"It was him," Cloud confirmed, his trained gaze absorbing every detail. The appalling scene was an overdue glimpse into the world and psyche of the former Captain of SOLDIER. "He's less than two days ahead of us."

"You're telling me that our enemy is someone capable of this…?" Aerith questioned, her tone lacking its usual passion.

"This guy's pretty strong, I'd say," mused Barret with a hint of reluctance. "You sure we oughtta be huntin' him?"

"Like you have no idea," Cloud retorted determinedly, unable to cast aside the mental image of Nibelheim engulfed in flames.

Sephiroth's strength was unimaginable, infinitely more destructive than the legends that preceded him. He had been revered as the defender of Shinra, Inc., a hero of the Wutai War, the strongest of all the SOLDIERs; nevertheless, he was still the man who massacred an entire village of innocent civilians, including Cloud and Tifa's families. A tense restlessness enveloped the party, endorsed by the pummelling rainfall. Somewhere in the midst of the indecision, Red XIII's lone words drifted like a profundity upon which the rest were expected to heed.

"This is a power that we should respect…"

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